PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Rose Nakasi

Also known as Rose Nakasi Kiire

Rose Nakasi is a computer scientist and AI researcher at Makerere University whose work focuses on low-cost AI tools for diagnosis. She joined Makerere's Artificial Intelligence Lab in 2015 while studying for a master's in computer science focused on AI, after starting a Mathematics and Computing degree at Busitema University in 2006. Her 2022 doctorate applied deep neural networks and smartphone microscopy to malaria diagnosis, and Mak Ocular received a US$1.5 million Google grant in 2023. She became a Google AI for Global Goals Fellow in 2023 and leads Makerere's AI Health Lab; by September 2026, more than 150 laboratory technicians and 10 pathologists had been trained to use Ocular across more than 35 health facilities in Uganda.

Now at
Makerere University and Uganda National Artificial Intelligence Task Force
Born
1988
Works
23
Citations
388
h-index
7

Years link to their sources. Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 22 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 2006

    A bachelor's at Busitema

    In 2006, she joins Busitema University for a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Computing.

  2. 2015

    Joining Makerere's AI lab

    In 2015, while studying for a master's in computer science focused on artificial intelligence, she joins the Makerere Artificial Intelligence Lab in the Department of Computer Science.

  3. May 2022

    A PhD on malaria diagnosis

    She graduates from Makerere University in May 2022 with a computer science doctorate supervised by Ernest Mwebaze and Aminah Zawedde. Her doctoral research, “Automated diagnosis of Malaria: Deep Neural Network,” uses a 3D-printed adapter on a microscope eyepiece and a smartphone so deep neural networks can detect malaria parasites in images. She works closely with Mulago Referral Hospital's Department of Internal Medicine and Lund University in Sweden.

  4. 2022

    Chairing the ITU malaria group

    In 2022, she is a Research Scientist at the Makerere Artificial Intelligence Lab, an active member of Data Science Africa, and chair of the Topic Group on AI-based detection of malaria at the ITU-WHO Focus Group AI for Health.

  5. 2023

    Launching Mak Ocular

    In September 2023, Mak Ocular launches with a US$1.5 million Google grant for AI diagnosis of malaria, tuberculosis and cervical cancer. She presents the project as its principal investigator.

  6. 2023

    A Google AI fellowship

    In 2023, she is a Google AI for Global Goals Fellow, supporting her lab's development of automated diagnostic tools.

  7. May 2024

    Opening the AI Health Lab

    The Government of Uganda and Makerere University inaugurate the Artificial Intelligence Health Lab at the College of Computing and Information Sciences in May 2024. As project leader, she presents the lab's strategy, including the Ocular and DS Malaria projects.

  8. As of October 2026

    Lecturer and lab lead

    As of October 2026, she is a computer scientist and AI researcher, a lecturer at Makerere University, and the lead of the Makerere AI Health Lab; her research focuses on low-cost AI tools for automated diagnosis, and she is principal investigator of the NIH DS-I Malaria project under DS-I Africa. By September 2026, more than 150 laboratory technicians and 10 pathologists have been trained to use the Ocular system across more than 35 health facilities in Uganda. She also serves as a committee member of the Uganda National AI Task Force.

Career

  1. Since 2022Makerere UniversityResearch Scientist
  2. NowUganda National Artificial Intelligence Task ForceCommittee Member
  3. From 2022ITU/WHO Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for HealthChair

Education

  1. 2022Makerere UniversityMaster's in Computer Science
  2. From 2006Busitema UniversityBachelor's degree in Mathematics and Computing

From the biography and OpenAlex affiliations (the years of papers that list the organization), so some years are approximate.

Most-cited works

  1. Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Microscopy-Based Point of Care Diagnostics2016 · 117 citations
  2. A new approach for microscopic diagnosis of malaria parasites in thick blood smears using pre-trained deep learning models2020 · SN Applied Sciences · 51 citations
  3. A Review on Automated Detection and Assessment of Fruit Damage Using Machine Learning2024 · IEEE Access · 49 citations
  4. Mobile-Aware Deep Learning Algorithms for Malaria Parasites and White Blood Cells Localization in Thick Blood Smears2021 · Algorithms · 46 citations
  5. FUTURE-AI: International consensus guideline for trustworthy and deployable artificial intelligence in healthcare2023 · 39 citationsWith Alejandro Frangi, Ben Glocker, Julia A. Schnabel, Lena Maier-Hein, Marzyeh Ghassemi and Mária Bieliková

From OpenAlex, as of 21 October 2026.

  1. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI each year from 1955 to 2025, tracing the shift from university labs to companies.
  2. The United States employs an estimated 48% of people shaping AIWe estimate where the people shaping AI work today, how universities, companies and research institutes split across countries, and how country shares have changed since the 1960s.
  3. 43% of living people shaping AI work outside their country of birthWe estimate that 43% of living people shaping AI work outside their country of birth (520 of 1,198 people with known birth and employment countries).
  4. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionWe estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Rose Nakasi yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. Rose Nakasi - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  2. How Sweden's support to Research helped Dr. Rose Nakasi use Artificial Intelligence to detect Malaria - Sweden Abroad swedenabroad.se. Checked 21 October 2026.
  3. Interview with Rose Nakasi: using machine learning and smartphones to help diagnose malaria - AIhub aihub.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  4. Google invests US$1.5M in Mak Ocular: An AI Automated Mobile Microscopic Diagnosis of Malaria, Cancer & Tuberculosis - Makerere University News news.mak.ac.ug. Checked 21 October 2026.
  5. Women in Focus: Dr. Rose Nakasi - African Observatory on Responsible AI globalcenter.ai. Checked 21 October 2026.
  6. Uganda Launches AI Health Lab at Makerere University - CoCIS cocis.mak.ac.ug. Checked 21 October 2026.
  7. African women deploy AI to speed disease diagnosis, boost potato production - Tribune Online tribuneonlineng.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  8. Dr. Rose Nakasi - Makerere AI Health Lab makerereaihealthlab.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  9. Rose Nakasi - AI for Good aiforgood.itu.int. Checked 21 October 2026.